Method of generating combustible gas



y Feb. 7, 1939. v w. HERMSDORF 2,145,874

, i METHOD 0F GENEHATING COMBUSTIBLE'GS Original Filed ug. 22, 1931 mhmmll nai.

Painted Feb.' v, i939 .PATENT orifice- 2,145,874 METHOD 0F GENEBATING neme mmm, Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of'Delaware i f applicati 'niisapplicatlonoctober 19:5, sei-ini No. 4ans l t 4 chime. (ci. is-zis) l 'nils application is a continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 558,656, filed August 22, 1931 of which my co-pending application Serial No. 697,562 led November 11, 1933, is j 5: a division. The said divisional application is now Patent 2,096,804, issued Oct. 26, 1937. This invenden relates to improvements in a method and means for generating combustible gas by associating combustiblev vapor and air. and refers Vl0 Specifically to a method and means for maintaining the ratio of vapor and air relatively constant throughout varying operating conditions. The utility. objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying 15 drawing and following detail description. Y

In the drawing, 1 is a vertical elevation Y partly in section oi apparatus suitable for carry'- ing out my invention. Y

Pig. 2 isa sectional `view taken on line 2`2 of Referring in detail to the drawing, i indicates a tank or reservoir which may be divided internal- 1y by a partition 2 providing a liquid compartment 9 and a gas compartment I. 'The compartmmtl is adapted to contain a quantity of coi'nhustible liquid such as gasoline, pente-ne, or the,l

like. lhetankorreservoir Imaytakeanydesirabieformsuchasthe usualcylindrical tanks commonintheart. v'

An air supply pipe 9 may be connected at on end to a suitable source of compressed air suchas ablowerorco, not shcwn.v'1'heop,

mtheplp'pl. Acheckvalvelmaybeg interped intheipipe'l and opens away h'om the rsulatingval'vet Inotliei'wox'iiii,airpassingl throughtheplpeliromtbereguiatingvalvetis palmittedtopainonedirectiononmthatis,

u away`ixuntheregulatingvalve9. AThe oppositeendolthedpeIkconnectedtoonele'gofthe 1 I9.A Anotherldthefllmaybeoonnected y v is connected to nipple il, the nipple Il servin to connect the elbow vI3 and the fitting i5. The

lnttlng l5 connects into pipe I9 which, in turn, may be connected into kthe liquid compartment 3 and air passing from the regulating valve 9 may 5 be introduced into the liquid compartment 9 throughrthe space l1 provided within the pipe I9. A pipe I8 may be. concentrically disposed l with respect to and within pipe I6 and may extend downwardly into the liquid compartment 9, the upper portion of said pipe ing through T I9. and being connected at its upper end to tting i9. A pipe 29 may connect into the iltting I9 and may be connected at its opposite end to a iloat valve 2|.

The oat valve 2l may comprise a casing 22 Dmvided with aclosure 29 which may be bolted or otherwise fastened to anges 24 provided upon -oneendofthecasingu asshownat. The closure 29 may be provided with an aperture into which bushing 29 may be threadedly positioned. the bushing 29 serving as a connecting medium between the pipe 29 and the interior of the casing 22. The ,closure 29 may also be provided with an inwardly extending neck 21 into which may be' threadedly positioned an apertured plug 29. A iioat 29 may be positioned within the casing 22 and may be provided with alug 99 which may be pivotalb mounted upon a portion of the inwardly extending neckv 21, said pivotal mounting occurring at 9|. A. spring 32 such asda leai spring, blade spring or the like, may be operatively associated with the-float 29 and operates to mainiioat29. l

Itcanbereadilyseenthatwhensumcientw limiidisintroducedintothecasingtouse very minute changes in level of the liquid within the casing. As can be readily seen the sensitivity be provided with a V-shaped groove 39 which, if

desired, may'permit the passage of a minute quantity of liquid through the valve. It can readily be seen that by rotating pin 38 the lower portion of said pin may be brought into close proximity or removed remote 'from the aperture into which said pin normally sets and thereby passage of liquid through the valve may be accurately controlled.

A pipe 45 may connect the outlet of the metering valve 35 and a heating member or vaporizer 4|. The stream of liquid passing through the pipe 40 `to the vaporizer 4| maybe divided and enter said vaporizer through both pipes `42 and 43. The purpose and operation of the heating element M will be hereinafter more fully described. e

The heater or vaporizer 4| may comprise a casing 53 having two longitudinal compartments 56 and 55 which extend substantially the entire length of the heater 4|. The two compartments 54 and 55 at their lower ends connect into a central longitudinal compartment 56. Electric heating element 56 or the like, may be positioned adjjacent the walls of the compartments 54 `and 55 liquid entering the compartments and 55' through the passages 42 and 43 respectively must pass through the transversely positioned screens 51 and, consequently, the heat conducted by said screens from the heating element is imparted' to said downwardly passing liquid and the same is Aiii) c.anged to the vapor state. 'Ihe vapors thus generated pass upwardly through thev central compartment 56. l

Disposed parallel to the central compartment 56 and positioned adjacent thereto is a tube 58 provided intermediate its length with a restricted portion 59 having substantially the proportions of a Venturi tube. An opening 60 may connect the upper portion of the compartment 56 with the neck of the Venturi tube 59 and as can readily be seen, air passing from the regulating valve 6 into the tube 58 will induce the passage of the vapors within 56 through the tube 58 wherein the vapors are mixed with air and thence the mixed vapors and air pass downwardly through pipe and into compartment 4.

A pipe 6| may connect at one end into the upper portion of the casing 22 of the float valve 2l and may be connected at its opposite end into the elbow 46. In this manner, it can be readily seen, that the interior of the oat valve 2| will be subjected to the same pressure which exists within the pipe connections between the regulating valve 6 and the vaporizer 4|.

In operation, the compartment 3 may be substantially filled with `a combustible, readily vaporizable liquid such as a hydrocarbon liquid,

Maeva gasoline, pentane, alcohols or the like. Air under pressure may be passed through the pipe to the regulating valve 6 and the arrangement is l such that said air will pass directly through the regulating valve 6 and 'be discharged ugh the pipe 1. The flow of air continues through the pipe 1, check valve 9, pipe il, valve i2 and into the upper portion of the compartment 5 thereby establishing a condition ot superatmospheric pressure within said compartment. When thc pressure within compartment 8 reaches a predetermined maximum as indicated by the pressure gauge ii, the valve 6 automatically acts to permit air under pressure to be discharged through the outlet 3, in addition to its passage through-the outlet "i.k In this manner aiiow o air under pressure takes place through the outlet pipe d, pipe 138, 49 and 6u, and throughthe neet.: of the venturi-59, the pipe 5| and into the'gas chamberdi. At this period, however, inasmuch as superatmospheric pressure exists within the compartment 3, liquid from said compartment will be forced upwardly through the pipe i6, the line 2@ and into the casing 22 until sumcient liquid has vaccumulated therein to actuate the iioat 29 to will be discharged from the casing 22 through the pipe 36, through the metering valve 36 and into the vaporizer di. Said liquid, as has been hereinbefre described. will contact the hot walls and the hot screens 51 within the compartments 5d and 55 and will thus be vaporized. Air, simultaneously, of course, is passed through the Venturi tube 59 and inasmuch as the connection between the Venturi tube 59 and the compartment E6 occurs at the neck of the Venturi tube, a sone of reduced 'pressure will be established by the increased velocity of the air passing through said neck and, consequently, the vapors contained within the compartment 56 will be induced through the opening 60 and will admix with the air passing through the Venturi tube. Theair carrying the vapors in entrainment will then be passed downwardly through the pipe 5| and into compartment 4. In this manner a highly efllcient combustible gas having a relatively constant B.

furnishes air to the system may be so arranged as to be energized when the pressure within, the gas compartment has reached a predetermined .minimum and may be shut oit when the pressure within said compartment reaches a predetermined maximum. For instance, the pressure of the gas within the compartment 4 may be maintained within four to six pounds per square inch as a maximum and two to three pounds per square inch as a minimum.

Under these circumstances it can readily be Vseen that when the pressure within the gas compartment 4 is being built up from the minimum pressure at which the blower or air compressor beginsfits operation to the maximum pressure at which said operation ceases. the air vapors in entrainment passing through the pipe 5|l into the compartment 4 will be discharging against a variable back pressure. that is. a presi sure .which varies between the minimum to the maximum.

It has heretofore been proposed to introduce the combustible liquid into contact with the air aumen y by maintaining substantially constant pressure upon the combustible liquid within the liquid chamber. The air that is introduced into contact with the liquid, oi course, isunder blower e pressure, consequently it can be seen that, as the back pressure within the gas compartment l varies, the rate of the passage of air from the blower will be decreased due to the raise in pressure of the compartment l. However, inasmuch as the pressure. within the liquid compartment is v this sort tends to thevproduction of a gas having a non-uniform. caloriilc value.

`To obviate this difiiculty I propose to isolate a quantity of liquid from the main bulk supply of liquid within the compartment 3, said isolated quantity being maintained within the float valve casing 22. The pressure within the easing 22 inasmuch as said casing is connected into the piping system between the regulating valve B and the vaporizer 4i by means of the pipe 6i is maintained at blower pressure, consequently. the pressure oi the air' adrnixed with combustible liquidv and the pressure oi' the combustible liquid is obtained from the s ame source. Hence when the pressure within the compartment l builds system which may tend to cause the trapping oi' the vapors within the vaporizer 4i. To compen-4 sate for this I may provide a Venturi tube 59 which tends to cause an area ofreduced pressure adjacent its neck and a connection is made at said neck with the central-compartment 58' thereby inducing the vapors within the vaporizer to ilow toward the neck of the Venturi tube.

The ratio of the quantity of air mixed with the quantity of liquid determines the heat value of the resultant gas. Ii' itis desired 'to change the heat content ot the'gas generated, the quantity o! liquid introduced into contact with the air may be readily controlled by manipulation ci metering valve 25, the operation of which has been hereinbei'ore described. i

An additional advantage which exists in the use oi.'4 an isolated body of liquid maintained under a pressure whichwaries asthe blower pressure is' the elimination of the loss in prsure which the level .oi' the liquid in the main bulk supply tank lowers or decreases. It can readily be seenv that ii the liquid were discharged directly from the bulk supply contained within the compartment I into contact with the compressed air. the pressure of said liquid would vary since the height o! the liquid within the compartment I would vary. In other words, as the liquid within compartment I was consumed, a greater pressure would be utilized in forcing the liquid from its lowered position within the compartment 2 up from the predetermined minimum value to t0 the "9011213 20D-881111811111? 88 the level 0f thepredetermined maximum value, the velocity 'liquid Within the compartment 2 would lower, 0f air thi'Oush the Venturi tube l will decrease. other things bem equal, the clol'lnc Vavlue 0f, the

1n other words, n smaller quantity of nir per unit su would likewise decrease and the production of time will pass the neck of the Venturi tube. However, inasmuch as the pressure uponv the liqyuid varies directly as the air pressure uponl said liquid in compartment 22, a smaller quantity of be maintained substantially constant even though of a gas having a constant B.,t. u. content would be substantially impossible. I

By'the use of the isloated body of liquid within the iioat valve 22, the liquid contained within said valve or within the casing 22, would not only be subjected to a pressure equal tothe pressure of the blower, but inasmuch as the float 29 maintained the liquid within said compartment constant, the pressure o! the liquid introduced to the the pressure into which said mixture is being dis- VBPOI'RI' l due t0 the Constant head Of liquid charged l varies. In addition, the ei'iiciency of Within the canins 22 would be constant. Conseblowers land air compressors, more particularly fluently. the change in B. t. u. content 0f the 86D- blowers of the rotary type, decreases rapidly with @rated 83S du@ t0 the 171118 head 0f liquid With-x in the liquid compartment is eliminated.

A pipe l2 may be connected into the ntting Il at one end and may be connected to-pipe 83 nection to the vaporizer 4|, this variatmn in at the other which extends downwardly into the emeienny, dueto the varying pressure within the su. compartment 4- A valve 33.' may be intercompartm'ent l is compensated."l This permits Ped in the Pipe n and may if desired be the use of an economical type of blower which mmmuy omm- Bythe provision of this Pip' would be impractical to otherwise use. l, m3 system in the event that liquid' combinable By the provision of the casing 2z maintaining 01' miem emulate Within 'the 8 m a bulk supply of. liquid, the static pressure head mt 4' theme .Within the liquid wm' oi' the liquid is maintained constant inasmuch pmment 3 may be relieved in an Obvious man as the oat 28- tends to maintain I the level .of nel' "nd the Valve "'0Pened- Anims Period m55' liquid within the casing n constant. Therefore, much as the Pressure Within the w wmvminasmuch as the static pressure head of the liquid mt is greater than the Pressure Within the is constant and the pressure on the liquiddue to liquid mpaftment 3 Sd ccllmultion 0l liqthe 1r from the .piping gymm s, 4s, 4g and n uid in the lower portion ot compartment 4 may varies in proportion to the passage of the air be forced uDWBYd-ly thl'vllah the Pipe 33 and into an increase in back pressure. Hence, by subjecting the liquid within the casing 22 to the same pressure as that of the air in the blower conthrough said system,I constant proportions4 of liquid and air will be mixed within the vaporizer 4Iy and, hence, regardless of the varying pressure into which the combustible mixture isbeing di's'- charged the proportions of said mixture will not" ehange except bymanipulating the metering' However, when the liquid is heated within the vaporizer 4i and changes its state to the vapor the compartment 2. Also, by the provision of a Systemof Pipes o! this character, the liquid may be removed from one compartment to the other in ease of emergency, for instance, an injury to the confining `walls of one or the other of the 1 compartments.

It is apparent that herein is provided a method and means oik making combustible gas which may be used either for home' or industrial purposes;

'u state, a back pressure may be introduced into the `a method of generating combustible gas whereby 2s in the speciiication and claims is meant, air which meY is unimpregnated with the vapors of a combustible liquid.

I claim as my invention: l

l. A process of generating combustible gas which comprises, maintaining a bulk supply of combustible liquid within a closed zone, isolating a portion of said liquid, passing atmospheric air under superatrnospl'leric pressure to a gascompartment, subjecting said isolated liquid to substantially the same superatmospheric pressure as that oi the air, passed to the gas compartment to pass a portion of said isolated liquid to a vaporizing zone wherein the liquid is changed to the vapor state at the same rate as it is introduced therein without maintaining an appreciable body oi liquid therein, maintaining the level of said isolated portion of liquid substantially constant to maintain a constant hydrostatic head upon the vaporlzing zone, and introducing the vapors from the vaporizing zone'into contact with the air in its passage tothe gas compartment thereby making a combustible gas, and in-, troducing said gas into the gas 'compartment until the pressure therein reaches a predetermined maximum value.

2. A process of generating combustible gas which comprises, maintaining a bulk supply oi' -combustible liquid in a closed zone. passing atmospheric air under superatmospherlc pressure to said closed noue until a predetermined 'maximum pressure is established therein, passing a' predetermined quantity of liquid from said closed zone to a second closed zone. maintaining the level of liquid in said second closed z'one substantially constant, subjecting the liquid in s'ald latter zone to air under pressure and thereby passing measured quantities oi.'- said liquid to a vaporizing zone wherein said liquid is vaporized substan-A tially immediately by heat and without maintain-f ing an appreciable body of liquid in said Vaporiz-V ing zone, passing air under the same pressure as the air in said second zone adjacent said vaporizf ing zone thereby inducing said vapors fromsaid vaporizing zone into contact with said passing air, collecting the resultant gas comprising said vapors and air, and storing the same ina storl manera age zone' out ot the presence of a volatile, com-V bustible liquid.

3. A process of making combustible gaswhich comprises, maintaining a bulk supply of combustible liquid in an enclosed zone, passing air urider superatmospheric pressure to said enclosed zone until a predetermined maximum pressure is established therein, passing liquid under said pressure from said zone to a second enclosed zone, passing a quantity oi' said liquid from said second enclosed zone at a predetermined rate to a vaporizing zone when the pressure in said rst mentioned zone reaches said maximum wherein said liquid is changed to the vapor state substantially immediately upon its entrance intosaid Vaporizing .zone without causing a substantial accumulation of liquid therein, maintaining the level oi' liquid constant in said second mentioned zone to maintain the hydrostatic pressure head constant upon said vaporizing zone, passing air under superatmospheric pressure into communication with said vaporizing zone when the pressure in said iirst mentioned zone reaches said maximum, to mix the same with the vapors formed in said vaporizing zone, and subjecting the liquid in said second mentioned zone to the same superatmospheric pressure as that of the air mixed with the vapors.

4. A process of generating combustible gas which comprises, maintaining a bulk 'supply of combustible liquid within a. closed zone. passing air under superatmospheric pressure to said closed zone whereinv said liquid is subjected to superatmospheric pressure, passing a. quantity of said liquid under said pressure to an isolated zone, passing air under superatmospheric pressure to a gas lcompartment when the pressure within said stantially the same superatmospheric pressure as the air passed to said gas compartment to maintain the pressureon said isolated liquid substantially equal to the pressure in said gas compartment, passing liquid from said isolated zone to a vaporizing zone wherein said liquid .is vapqrized without maintaining a. body of liquid in said vaporizing zone,` passing the air to the g compart- 'ment adjacent said vaporizing zone to induce said vapors into Y the passing air and form a combustible gas,` and storing said combustible gas in .said gas compartment.

` WALTER H. mMSDORF. v 

